After changing speakers 4 times, I finally bought Totem Model 1s and I am not going to part with these for a long long time. Excellent ( really superb) imaging, very clean sound, tight bass and good mid range, musical high end..everything I would ever need. Definitely the best component in my 'upper-mid'-fi system though the cheapest component among the lot I have.

extremely fast
very good imaging

ear fatiguing bright sound

I have Totem 1 bi-wires.They have a very precise sound.The imaging is very impressive.The bass is remarkable for such a small speaker.My complaint regarding these speakers is their overly bright sound.I use them with classe cap 80 int amp and micromega transport and Dac.I find it very fatiguing listening to these speakers.

They are in my listening room for 2 years. These tiny speakers retired my former big Mirage M-7si, and never make me regret for it.I have been thinking replacing them with Thiel CS1.5, CS2 2 or CS2.3, PMC LB-1S..., but after listening to most of them I still come back to these little giants.
Give them powerful amp and bigger room to breathe, they will sing for you!

Five stars for sound quality as a mini monitor.
Four stars for pricing.

clear imaging, liquid sound, good for vocal, good bass for the size

need hefty power, can't use small tube amplifier, at least need 50 watt

Good sound, need more power than B&W 805, sound a bit bright with kimber 4TC bi-wired, better use Van Den Hull CS-122 or 352 bi-wired. Transparent sound for acoustic music, excellent. Good combination with sub woofer if you need more bass, I have tried with M&K V100 subwoofer with very good result.

Similar Products Used:

B&W Matrix 805, B&W 601

Transparency and accurate definition.

Weak bass.

Should not expect a full range detail from this mini-monitor. Excels on piano, violin and female vocal.
Especially if you play Alfred Brendel, it feels like he is near beside you but when you play Brendel with an orchestra setting, he is somewhere in the forest. Highly recommend for chamber and solo music lovers.

Current system set up is: Jadis Orchestra integrated amplifier, CEC CD player, Theta pro basic D/A converter and the cables from Cable house.

Some says it shows more vibrant and wide sound when connected to amplifiers with at least over 150~200 Watts. Tried that with couple of amplifiers in that range but didn't produce impressive sound.

natural sound, unbelieveable vivid and lively

not much

I bought these little speakers based on recommendation by Angie at the American Sound in Toronto. I have owned all those speakers list above and the only speakers better than the Totem is the Quad. As well as amplifier is concerned, I am now using an Audio Note kit one assembled by Falcon Audio in Toronto. For over 5 years, I cannot find a better and more nature sounding amplifer whereas cost is no concerned. It is only 7 watts yet it drove the Totem to unbelieveable loundness yet it is bass weak. But, I don't care about bass and I want the performers to be in my living room. I can feel them playing and singing. Most of the credit of the above experience I believe would go to the Audio Note, yet the speakers certainly are doing their job beautifully. For more than 5 years, I haven't change any component of the total setup and they are:
Linn LP 12, Ittok, Benz Glider
EAR phono,the best, even better than the Audio Research PH2
Reference Line preamplifer
Audio Note kit one, Single end, 7 watts wonder
Totem model one, bi-wired and four WBT speaker terminal
Interconnect, Kimber silver
Speaker wire, Audio quest

Similar Products Used:

Quad63, Maggie, mission 770

I listened to the Totem Model 1s back in 1995 in a Toronto showroom. They were hooked up to then Sonic Frontiers SFS 50 Stereo Tube Amplifier. I liked the smooth highs, midrange and I was also impressed with the extent and control of the base extension (especially on tubes). I was certain however that the hint O' screechiness that I heard was an issue of breaking in the new speaker. Be warned!! The Totems are a magnificent speaker for the money and almost anything will drive them well (impedence never dips below 4 ohms) however they require a very thorough break in period before you really coax the sweetness out of this little gems (we're talking at least 300 hours of non-stop continuous music at normal listening levels). I was in luck: just yesterday I went to a local high end shopand found a pair of Model 1s on consignment. They were about a year old and hade been broken in amply. Best of all they were marked down to below dealer cost (way below). I didn't miss the chance to spirit them away to my house and never return them again!!!
Phenomenal speaker!!!

I have owned a pair of Totem model ones for five years know and in my opinion there is no better buy in audioland. $1,500.00 for sound this good is a bargain . Soundstage and imaging is excellent. They are also very clear,detailed and airy,bass is more then adequate in my small listening room.Midrange and treble are good to excellent.

I've had my Totem 1s for nearly 4 years now. I fell in love with them from the first time I heard them ( I was a totally newbie to hifi then), and started to read regularly about equipment and hang about the shops with the guys since then - they got me hooked! I've gone through 4 pairs of speakers in my other set since, but will never part with the Totems. They are just perfect for my small room - great imaging, astonishing lows, sweet highs. Had them paired with Acurus DIA100 and Cyrus IIIi with PSX - no problems. Maybe if I can upgrade to powerful tubes they'd be even better!

Heard the totem on good listening session twice,first with a Rotel ampBriston preamp Denon cd player wich was a desaster 2nd time Arcam cd
Exposure integrated this was like 40 minute in the orgasmatron.